Monday, December 26, 2016

I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas. Can't believe another one has come and gone already. But now that gifts have been given and opened, I can share a couple of gifts I made.

One of my BFFs and I went to an Art Fair earlier this year and there was a fantastic booth with the most incredible bead embroidery. I immediately became fascinated with a new medium and wanted to try my hand at bead embroidery. It was instantly addicting.

Bear in mind that these are beginner projects without any training beyond a few You Tube videos! But the recipients seem to like their gifts. I made a couple of beaded cuffs ( and since I wasn't sure how this was going to go , I didn't take pics along the way) using felt scraps as my base and random patterns that just kind of unfolded as I went along. I also incorporated some coordinating ribbon scraps from my stash.

This was the first one I made using my Mom's favorite colors. I did actually draw somewhat of a pattern on the felt. Once the top of the cuff was done, I stitched heavy jewelry wire to the back then finished the back with a piece of ultra suede. You can find lots of tutorials on You Tube and Pinterest to get you started.

For the Blue Cuff the process was the same only I added even smaller seed beads which now I'm even more addicted to. I like the combination of different sizes and types of beads.

I quickly discovered ( especially for the smallest beads) that this is my favorite bead needle. They look delicate but they are very strong and when working with curves etc. so much easier to use than a traditional straight needle. You can get these at bead stores or craft stores. I got mine at Michaels.

I couldn't stop once I got started so I also made this pendant which I used as the focal for a necklace:

Before I added the backing, I glued a bail to the heart and then used a combination of bright and antique gold chains ot make the necklace.

And while not bead embroidered, I made these earrings to go along with the Blue Cuff:

Tuesday, December 20, 2016

Ack. I've been without a computer for almost a week which is a lifetime in blogging years. Backup your stuff people because we always think it can't happen to us and then boom, new hard drive.

In the meantime, made Hanukkah cards and tags for a couple of friends. I'm tickled that the tags I started making a few years ago for one friend get asked about by her relatives "Is she making any this year".

I've always loved shiny and glittery things so I had a lot of fun working with gold foiled and glitter papers found at Michaels. The foiled papers are a combination of Recollections, Craft Smith, and DCWV stacks. Add to that my weakness when Michaels has their specialty papers 10 for $10 and I'm in paper hoarder heaven.

For the card, I cut a menorah on my Cameo ( image found in the Silhouette Online Store) and then just hand cut the candles and flames freehand. I double cut the menorah and gave it depth using foam dots by layering one piece atop another. Blue and gold glitter papers were layered on top of a foiled piece. Simple but I am really happy with the outcome.

For the tags, I just like to play around with bits and pieces with no particular plan. I just want the colors to work with each other so when I package them, they look like a set.

My signature paper style is tearing things. I just can't not have some ragged edges!

With freaking out over my computer crash, would you believe I forgot to take pics of this year's Christmas cards? I did manage to take pics of a set of Christmas tags I made as a gift! Whew.

Papers used here are from the Traditional Christmas paper pack from Oriental Trading Company along with some of my glitter and foil stash.

Tuesday, December 13, 2016

This is a sponsored post. Materials were provided to me. Project idea and comments are mine.

The team at Oriental Trading Company provided me an opportunity to play with some of their great products to come up with a Christmas project and needless to say I had too much fun.

I created this layered piece using a plain slat board , a wood tree shape , a plain frame and Christmas themed scrapbook paper but the most fun part of this piece was the gold leafing! Foil and shiny is so popular right now ( wouldn't matter if it wasn't, I love shiny things). I also love marrying the most basic and rustic supplies and the glam (for example, my Christmas tree includes Swarovski crystal ornaments and a tree topper made using a toilet paper roll).

The unfinished tree is actually meant to stand up but since I never use things as intended, I glued the stand to the back of the tree to give it some dimension.

I painted the sign using black craft paint and then dry brushed it with cream paint. I did the same for the unfinished frame.

I traced the tree onto a piece of the scrapbook paper , cut out, and used Mod Podge to apply it to the tree. Once dry, I lightly sanded the edges.

I cut the "Love Peace Joy" sentiment with my Silhouette from gold glitter vinyl and applied it to a slat board piece I had in my stash ( also painted black and dry brushed cream.

Now for the fun part! If you've never worked with gold leaf before don't be intimidated. Do be prepared that it's messy. It's like glitter and once you start to brush it off it gets everywhere so plan accordingly or plan to walk around picking tiny flakes of leafing off of yourself. But, there's nothing like it so it's worth it.

You need a good glue and I've had success using Mod Podge or PVA glue but really you should use a glue made for gold leaf which is what I used. I didn't want complete coverage so I just randomly dabbed my glue here and there. It sets up in about 30 min.

You can see here the random way I did the gold leafing. When your glue is set you lay a sheet of the leafing on top and then use a stiff brush ( stencil brushes work well) to pounce it onto the glue. It will adhere to wherever the glue was and then pieces of it will break away. I save my excess to use for other projects.

I did the same to the frameand then used more of the scrapbook paper under the glass as shown and cut a gold glitter vinyl reindeer to go on top of the glass. Once all my pieces were ready I glued them to the sign and done.

Stay tuned! I will have a couple more projects using the supplies I received!

Thursday, December 8, 2016

Happy Friday Eve all. Hunkering down here in the PNW on snow watch like so many parts of the country. I'm a busy elf working on handmade presents and finishing up decorating. And then I see more awesome ideas linked up at my party and my head spins even faster! Here are some ideas that may or may not make it yet this year but definitely pinned for next!

Let's start with these printable but originally hand lettered gift bags by My 3 Monsters courtesy of Lolly Jane. LOVE and who can't use extra bags this time of year? Post includes a tutorial on how to easily print on paper bags.

Speaking of getting your jingle on, leave it to Mich in LA to see this brilliant idea in a jingle bell! I want to spend the night in her brain sometime. And they're not just for earrings. You have to see what else she did with them.

These sparkly polymer clay Snowflake Ornaments from My Busy Beehives would be a great addition to your tree or to make and give as gifts. Beautiful!

I'm on the hunt for a new dessert for Christmas. I make one of two of the same cakes each year and want to try something new. This Chocolate Raspberry Forrest Cake from Chocolate and Carrots looks wonderful and the chocolate trees don't look too hard. What do you think?

Thursday, December 1, 2016

OK let the countdown officially begin. Twenty-four days until Christmas and twenty-three days until the first day of Hanukkah! Rev your engines. It's crunch time people!

Let's start with a tour shall we? Now we know why Heather from Woods of Bell Trees always impresses with elegant projects. Look at her creative space all decorated for Christmas! Gorgeous! My office decorations consist of leftover supplies on the floor lol.

I've always wanted to make a Yule Log and every year I say I'm going to try and every year.... Well this may finally be that year with this idea from 3Winks Design! How about a platter of these? Genius idea.

Monday, November 28, 2016

I decided I wanted a new Christmas Tree Topper this year for no reason other than I did, and makers make right?

I was originally looking for the kind that have the coil thingy and went to Dollar Tree looking for one to use as a base but they didn't have any. But, makers make right? We also have to adapt and improvise so that's what I did.

Supplies:

2 Gold Glittered Dollar Tree Star Ornaments (Large)

Toilet Paper roll...yep...toilet paper roll

Gold duct tape

Gold and Black glitter vinyl (scraps in stash)

Large bottle cap ( I had in my stash )

Gold wire

Hot glue and glue gun

Cost: $2 since I had everything on hand except the Star Ornaments

I covered the toilet paper roll with duct tape. Using my Silhouette I cut the gold glitter vinyl to fit inside bottlecap and cut the number "25" from black glitter vinyl. The number works especially well this year since we celebrated our 25th Anniversary earlier in the year but obviously also works for the date of Christmas!

Now in the spirit of radical honesty, this part didn't go totally as planned. If you look really closely at the bottlecap, you can see the grid lines from the transfer tape because I layered the numbers after I put the circle of vinyl inside the bottlecap. I should have done this before I put the circle in the bottlecap which would have made it easier to get the transfer tape off. At least that's what I'm telling myself. So since I couldn't get the transfer tape off without screwing up my numbers and a lot of swearing, I left the transfer tape on and it looks like ledger paper or something. At least that's what I'm telling myself!

I marked the toilet paper roll where I was going to glue the stars ( front and back) but to make this contraption sturdier, I used some jewelry wire to secure the two stars together at the top and right and left sides. Then I glued my oopsy bottlecap to the front and done.

Since I'm just taking down Thanksgiving and we won't get our tree until Friday, I can't show it to you atop a tree but here it is atop the mantle.

This was my Thanksgiving mantle which I never posted so "Happy After Thanksgiving"! I update my chalkboard for each holiday but I'm kinda thinking I'll leave this sentiment through Christmas since PhD boy ( man...he's a man...but that doesn't sound the same) comes home on Friday for a month!!! Not that I'm excited or anything.

Thursday, November 24, 2016

Happy Thanksgiving ! Our annual feast day of eat ti'l you can't move then shop til you drop tomorrow. We skip "Black Friday" but those of you who are going out be safe and have fun. Since I'll be hosting the rest of the day, throwing the party open early and wishing everyone a very HAPPY THANKSGIVING. Thankful that you make my little party a part of your weekly routine!

Here are some features from last week's party !

How perfect and timely is this from Lolly Jane?! If you're like me, the leftovers are the best part of Thanksgiving.

Printables are such a great and simple way to change up your decor. My Busy Bee Hives has a great collection free for you to download!

Time to start finishing up handmade gifts and Mich in LA has a great way to use an eclectic bead mix. Love these handmade earrings and Mich has a tutorial you can follow!

This time of year we all use a lot of ribbon but don't throw those ribbon spools away. Raven Would has a great idea to turn them into ornaments!

Thursday, November 17, 2016

Happy Friday Eve all. Can you believe this time next week those of us in the US will be stuffing our faces ( no pun intended) or passed out in a food coma? I'm not sure how Thanksgiving is only a week away but it is.

Here are some ideas from last week's party that you can still do in time for the big day.

Sunday, November 13, 2016

This is a sponsored post through partnership with One2One Network, Disney Music and Verve. Opinions are mine.

I recently had the opportunity to review the album "Jazz Loves Disney". It was perfect for me since we are huge Disney fans.

The first thing most people think of when it comes to Disney (well, after Mickey Mouse) are the parks and the rides. But for me, it's also the music. Every attraction has a theme song increasingly tied into the movies.

To say that we are Disney fans is an understatement. We've been to the parks for so many of the special occasions in our life starting with our honeymoon, to childhood trips with our son including while dropping him off at college and then celebrating his graduation. Most recently we celebrated our 25th Anniversary there.

On roadtrips there and back, Disney music was part of our travels. When not there? We've celebrated birthdays and other occasions with Disney music. One of my favorite memories is from when our son was little and we staged Disney parades marching to Disney music throughout our house.

You get the picture of why I jumped at the chance to review this album. This is Disney for grown ups. These are some of the classic Disney songs done in mellow and memorable ways that will have you humming or singing when you're not thinking about it. Not in that eyes glazed over because your kids want to listen to things over and over ( been there, done that and no offense to some Disney tunes but you know what I mean!) but because you enjoy the music.

You can download from iTunes or Amazon and here is the full track listing:

13. The Hot Sardines – I Wanna Be Like You (French & English version) – from The Jungle Book (US release only)

I didn't think anyone could sing "Let It Go" from "Frozen" as well as Idina Menzel, but Anne Sila's rendition is wonderful. I also love Melody Gardot's "He's a Tramp" from "Lady and the Tramp" but honestly, there isn't a song on here I didn't enjoy.

This quote from Stacey Kent who did "Bibbidi Bobbidi Boo" sums things up for me:

The song BIBBIDI BOBBIDI BOO, speaks to the child in us all, that still believes - or would like to believe - that we can do magic. As we grow up, we are at the risk of losing that sense of possibility but music has always had the power to transform the world and make it a better place; If that’s not magic, what is?”

I need a little magic in my life right now and for me, nobody does that better than Disney.

Thursday, November 10, 2016

Hi all. Happy Thursday / Friday Eve and welcome to this week's party. Here are some Thanksgiving inspired features from last week since it will be here before you know it!

Let's start with "Hooty" the Baking Owl from Artsy VaVa. You don't have to be a baker to love what she did with these baking pans!

Not only do I love this checkered banner from Lolly Jane, it's REVERSIBLE so you can use for multiple occasions.

I've been so lazy ever since Windows Live kinda went sideways on me. That's how I used to watermark my pics and now when I remember, I do it manually in PicMonkey. So this tip from My Messy Little Nest is perfect. I need to do this!

Now for this week's chocolate feature:

Every year, I'm on the hunt for how to "chocolate-i-fy" Thanksgiving. I pinned this awesome looking Bittersweet Chocolate Pumpkin Tart from Love and Olive Oil. Even someone like me who is not fond of pumpkin could tear into this don't you think?

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Unless otherwise credited, all projects are those of The Answer Is Chocolate. Please link back etc. and I will always do the same for any projects I feature that are from other sources. Thanks a bunch!